A 68-year-old diabetic man, who had been on dialysis for 3 years, suffered a five week history of severe back pain that was unresponsive to bed rest, analgesics, and bracing. The vertebral cleft formed by an injury gradually increased in size on sequential plain films. Hence, he underwent calcium phosphate cement-assisted percutaneous transpedicular balloon kyphoplasty to treat a painful interbody vacuum cleft. Immediate pain relief and firm bone union were obtained.
Aged ; Analgesics ; Back Pain ; Bed Rest ; Braces ; Calcium ; Calcium Phosphates ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; Renal Dialysis ; Vacuum

Symptomatic Tarlov (perineural cysts) are uncommon. In the following hemodialysis case, cauda equina syndrome was not detected after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia untilthe patient reported a lack of sensation in the perianal area 14 days postoperatively. She had normal motor function of her extremities. A laminectomy and cyst irrigation was performed. After the operation, her sphincter disturbance subsided gradually and her symptoms had disappeared.
Anesthesia ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Laminectomy ; Renal Dialysis ; Tarlov Cysts

We describe four cases of delayed union in female patients with severe osteoporotic vertebral fractures, which were treated in a similar but less costly method to kyphoplasty. Due to domestic regulations, inflatable tamps for kyphoplasty are not available to every clinical orthopedists in Japan. In our clinical experience of four cases of delayed lumbar spine union between 2009 and 2010, we performed vertebroplasty using a reduction and spreading prod (Oyamada prod) for fracture reduction and a pediatric uromatic balloon (Medicon Co. Ltd.) to enlarge the pre-existing cavity. Our clinical results were comparable to those of kyphoplasty procedures performed in the USA. Our procedure could be used to overcome the shortage of medical supplies in developing countries or in countries such as Japan, which often prioritize financial concerns over providing optimal health care. Our method could serve as a useful compromise for moribund patients considering its cost efficiency.
Delivery of Health Care ; Developing Countries ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Kyphoplasty ; Social Control, Formal ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty